By Sohaib Shams
Authorities have captured an escaped Tennessee inmate in Missouri after a 10-day manhunt that spanned three states.
Escape and capture
Jacob Morley, 28, escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in northwestern Tennessee on Oct. 25, slipping through a fence in his prison clothes. Surveillance video showed him stealing a truck from a nearby farm, which he later abandoned in Marion, Illinois, about 127 miles away. Investigators found evidence he stayed in a shed used by hunters, consuming beer and garlic bread, and left an apologetic handwritten note after stealing another truck from the property. He was also suspected of taking clothes and three firearms.
Arrest in Missouri
Morley was apprehended Tuesday near Kansas City, Missouri, after his truck became stuck in mud. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers used roadside cameras and a helicopter to track him down. Two rifles and a shotgun were recovered from the vehicle. Authorities said he was compliant during the arrest and was taken to the Lafayette County Jail in Lexington, Missouri.
Background and charges
Morley was serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of his co-worker, Cody Birchfield, whose body was found in a box under Morley's home. He was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, vandalism and evading arrest. District Attorney General Danny Goodman Jr. said Morley could face charges in Missouri, Illinois and federal court, with additional charges planned in Tennessee. It remains unclear when he will be returned to Tennessee.
